Was there a link between the series of violent incidents, two of them murder cases, rocking Danao town the past weeks to the controversial Cantakoy Hydro Project? No body is man enough to provide the answer but the unsolved violent cases that have claimed two lives and wounded two others so far have alarmed Danao Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga. “The emerging pattern of violent incidents is getting suspicious because there has been no action about them so far,” Gonzaga said. The latest incident involved the murder of one Mario Roldan Torres, who was shot dead while he was riding his motorcycle on the way to Inabanga town last Monday. Torres, married and a resident of Poblacion, Danao, was employed as a liaison of Cantakoy Hydro Electric Power Plant.

The victim was driving his Yamaha YBR 3937 XX motorcycle from his residents to Inabanga proper. Upon reaching the vicinity of Barangay Baogo, Inabanga, the two assailants riding in another motorcycle shot him several times which caused his instantaneous death. Gonzaga said Torres was the fourth victim of violence since October last year when a Danao town employee identified as Walter Melencion was shot dead in Barangay Sta. Fe, Danao. Melencion, a resident of Poblacion, Danao, was having a drink with the barangay captain when he was shot by the suspect with a caliber .45 pistol. He was rushed to the Tubigon Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Last June 12, one Reynaldo Duavis Jr., 24, married and a security guard, was shot by three men at Sitio Can-aga, Barangay Magtangtang while he was riding his motorcycle. Duavis, who sustained injuries in different parts of his body, fortunately sustained the assault.

Prior to the shooting of Duavis, lawyer Dodilon Sabejon was shot while he was on his way to his office at Sarabia-Co-Torralba building along CPG Ave., Tagbilaran City. Gonzaga said the pattern of the violent incidents point to a common denominators: the victims are either municipal employees of Danao town or workers of Cantakoy Hydro Plant and that he counted all four among his most loyal political supporters. Earlier this year, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan launched a probe on the alleged irregularities surrounding the operation of the mini-hydro project. In spite of the massive propaganda campaign that went with the probe initiated by Board Members Josephine Socorro Jumamoy and Romulo Cepedoza, government agencies that have jurisdiction on the project did not find the allegations meritorious to stop it. Gonzaga said he is aware that the people of Danao who want the project to be pursued are up against a very powerful lobby that is supported by influential government officials.

“It is sad that they are doing everything they can to stop a project that will not only be beneficial to Danao but even to the people of Bohol considering the energy that it will generate,” he lamented. The mayor said he is concerned that the spate of violence has not only remained unsolved but has not been given the priority it deserves. “This is a big blot on the image of the province that has not only resisted investment projects but has shown its inability to solve violent incidents related to such projects,” he added. Gonzaga said that while the unsolved violence is already alarming, the implications are more disturbing. “We cannot prevent people from asking the inevitable question: who’s next?” the mayor said.

POLITICAL

In another interview, Mayor Gonzaga revealed that political angle could be a motive behind the murder of Torres. The political angle was one of the leads pursued by investigastors looking into the killing although his employment in the giant hydro project in Danao was also being looked into. The project was highlighted as an answer to Bohol’s unemployment problem. Even the victim’s wife Nelly Torres believes it was politically motivated but she did not elaborate.  Torres, who was said to be the liaison officer of the huge project, was shot to death by two motorcycle-riding men along the national highway in bBarangay Baogo, Inabanga town sometime last week. Torres was a native of Inabanga town but residing in Danao until his death. He was dead on arrival at the Francisco Dagohoy Memorial Hospital of Inabanga, said the report. While driving his motorcycle unit at past six in the evening, two motorcycle-riding menovertook him and the backrider pumped his .45 caliber handgun and hit the victim who consequently lost control of his motorcycle.

The suspects immediately fled under cover of darkness, according to the report. Recovered from the crime scene, police said, were empty bullet shells and another belt bag containing .45 caliber gun allegedly owned by the victim. Asked if her husband was a victim of summary execution that may be committed by the underground movement, the wife answered in the negative in a phone interview last Friday. Nelly Torres, who is currently employed at the town hall, said that now that she’s alone she has to work hard to raise her five siblings, the oldest of whom aged 28 who just got married and the youngest is 14. Mayor Gonzaga said that he extended assistance for the expenses of the bereaved family of Roldan Torres. (With reports from RVO)